Preorder Battlefield 3 with Origin, get early beta access

EA wants you to buy Battlefield 3 on Origin, and it's offering early beta …

EA has teamed up with retailers to offer a series of content packages to reward you for shopping with GameStop, Best Buy, and Amazon, but the publishing giant seems to be leaving the best package for gamers who preorder the game through its own Origin service. If you preorder the PC download version of the game via Origin, you'll get a full suite of bonuses, including early access to September's beta.

Players who preorder the game from Origin will be granted early access to the Open Beta for Battlefield 3 when it goes live in September 2011.

Pre-load and Get Ready to Play at Launch

Preorder the PC Digital version of Battlefield 3 Limited Edition through Origin to preload your game before it launches. Preloading means you can play the minute Battlefield 3 releases instead of waiting to install.

Physical Warfare Pack (Bonus item for PC Download purchases only)

Get physical with the help of some extra fire power. The weaponry includes the Type 88 LMG with bipod, Flechette Ammo for DAO-12 Shotgun, Flash suppressor for SKS sniper rifle, and Day 1 Access to the DAO-12 Shotgun

There is no retailer or service you can use to get all the content, and the Physical Warfare pack will be made available for free down the line. Origin clearly offers the best deal. You get early access to the beta, you'll be able to preload the game, you get the Physical Warfare pack and Back to Karkand DLC... it's an impressive package for fans who want to play the maximum amount of Battlefield 3 and they don't want to wait a second more than necessary.

While many gamers are still annoyed by the lack of preorder options on Steam, EA seems to be doing everything it can to entice you to make the move to Origin.

Pretty sad to see all this extra shit that is just taken off (and should have been in) the main product and be used as marketing gimmicks. That and having EA stroke your junk and thinking we're getting an oh-so-amazing value by giving a "free expansion pack." Fuck man, you guys are so generous and thoughtful. You're my favorite company, EA! Always finding ways to save me money!

Sad to say this just made BF3 a non-purchase for me. I barely trust EA as it is,I refuse to use their new ordering system after hearing a few horror story's too many from friends. Sad to say this also sounds way too much like a promo for Origin. I think you need to reword this before we think your just a mouth piece for EA.

How many downloader apps are there (I only have Steam and have only used it to get Jade Empire)? And while they do use up resources, aren't many of them in competition with each other a good thing? That's the free market at its best, right? Isn't this a win for gamers when we can choose our stores based on who's giving the best offer?

And is managing many downloader accounts a bigger hassel than going out to the stores themselves?

I can understand hating EA (and Ubisoft, and Activision) for being anti-consumer in DRM practices, but this is the sort of thing I would think we'd want to support.

How many downloader apps are there (I only have Steam and have only used it to get Jade Empire)? And while they do use up resources, aren't many of them in competition with each other a good thing? That's the free market at its best, right? Isn't this a win for gamers when we can choose our stores based on who's giving the best offer?

And is managing many downloader accounts a bigger hassel than going out to the stores themselves?

I can understand hating EA (and Ubisoft, and Activision) for being anti-comsumer in DRM practices, but this is the sort of thing I would think we'd want to support.

If the downloader apps were capable of downloading the same games, I would agree. But Origin mostly has EA games and Steam is losing many of its EA games. And frankly, Origin is garbage, but I installed it anyway to get BF Bad Company 2 Vietnam, BF2, and BF2142 for $5 each.

Regarding the article, you said that "There is no retailer or service you can use to get all the content." Perhaps you could outline what is available where, as I have really lost track. That might address some of the complaints about this being an ad for Origin.

Also, nice to see EA abusing the old Origin Systems name by repurposing it for their terrible download service. Next thing I think they should do is write their own always-on DRM scheme like Ubisoft has, but call it Bullfrog.

Open Beta - Don't tons of people already have this?Pre-Load the Game - This should be an "everyone" feature.Physical Warfare Pack - Something everyone else will get. Sweet!Karkand Maps - Exclusive maps in a multiplayer game that I might want to play with friends. Score!Tweedledee Beret - OK.Free EA Obgyn download "service" - Hell-on-a-pancake-no.

I guess the real question is, and this came up during the PC gaming thread yesterday, what kind of restrictions are there in Origin? Is it like steam where I have to sign in to play my game? Can I play my game if my internet connection goes down? Is it just a better arranged store for EA, keeping all your dlc and downloads through a software platform?

I'm a little confused by the editions being advertised. The only version I see listed anywhere is the "Limited Edition". But if that's the only edition, how is it limited?

I also see listings for a strategy guide from Prima for something called the "Collector's Edition", but there doesn't seem to be any such edition available for pre-order.

Is there going to be a "regular version" that I can get for less than $60?

The "Limited Edition" of any EA game is a small ruse. The main reason they put those words on the package is because they want you to think it's worth the extra $10 (for a PC game). EA wants to get PC gamers to start paying the same amount as console gamers so they put "Limited Edition" on all of the boxes for all the platforms.

It actually is a "Limited Edition" because 8-12 months after the game comes out EA ceases to print "Limited Edition" on any new copies they ship out to stores. So if it's worth the extra $10 to you have those words printed on your box then have at it. That's about the same time all the retailer-specific pre-order bonuses get given to everyone anyway so I suppose it might be worth it to some.

Open Beta - Don't tons of people already have this?Pre-Load the Game - This should be an "everyone" feature.Physical Warfare Pack - Something everyone else will get. Sweet!Karkand Maps - Exclusive maps in a multiplayer game that I might want to play with friends. Score!Tweedledee Beret - OK.Free EA Obgyn download "service" - Hell-on-a-pancake-no.

"Impressive" package, EA. Most "impressive".

They should give a free tube of KY with that package. And instruction on how to bend over before installing Origin. Since its BF3, ill surrender and take it like a man.

The last game I bought from EA on the PC was a Madden game (before they killed it off on the PC). I think the app management program was called EA Link, but it sucked horribly, had all types of restrictions on the program (like number of times it could be downloaded ever). I have steam games like Half-Life that I can download 100 times over every time I get a new machine or need to reformat. I don't know if Origin has similar restrictions, but I will stick with steam for my PC gaming.

If the downloader apps were capable of downloading the same games, I would agree. But Origin mostly has EA games and Steam is losing many of its EA games. And frankly, Origin is garbage, but I installed it anyway to get BF Bad Company 2 Vietnam, BF2, and BF2142 for $5 each.

If EA is taking its ball and going home that's one thing; offering exclusive minor titles is another. I'd consider it bad business to take away their bigger-named titles from Steam (or any other downloader) and keep them exclusive to their first party app. In which case they'd just be creating extra hassels for potential buyers. However, assuming BF3 is available on Steam, then this just makes the pot sweeter for people willing to download Origin, and apparently putting up with garbage. =o)

Its not a matter of price, or competition for me, I am naturally suspicously of DRM, and steam has worked hard to earn my trust and act in a way I respect. As a result its the only place I buy games, even if that occasionally means I pay over the retail price.

How many downloader apps are there (I only have Steam and have only used it to get Jade Empire)? And while they do use up resources, aren't many of them in competition with each other a good thing? That's the free market at its best, right? Isn't this a win for gamers when we can choose our stores based on who's giving the best offer?

And is managing many downloader accounts a bigger hassel than going out to the stores themselves?

I can understand hating EA (and Ubisoft, and Activision) for being anti-consumer in DRM practices, but this is the sort of thing I would think we'd want to support.

You have to think it all the way through to the end. There's no downloader competition going on here because EA won't let the games DLC be sold on steam...

I'm going to hold off until I see if Origin is required to run BF3. I've had terrible experiences with EA's previous attempts at an online store and am very wary of any other attempts by them. So definitely no re-order, and maybe no sale, not that it really matter :-P

I guess the real question is, and this came up during the PC gaming thread yesterday, what kind of restrictions are there in Origin? Is it like steam where I have to sign in to play my game? Can I play my game if my internet connection goes down? Is it just a better arranged store for EA, keeping all your dlc and downloads through a software platform?

Anyone use Origin yet who could answer these questions?

My main complaints so far are that it's buggy, I don't think you can add non-Origin games to your library, they make me agree to 3 EULAs for every game I download, and they won't guarantee that you will be able to re-download your games after 1 year. I'll have to try your questions about sign-in and offline gaming, I'm not sure about those. It does keep patches up to date, so there's that.

You have to think it all the way through to the end. There's no downloader competition going on here because EA won't let the games DLC be sold on steam...

Oh wow, can you imagine if you bought the game on Steam, and after 18 months or so of this releasing with about 2-3 expansions later you get a constant message saying "DLC required for this server" on all of the official servers but then again i'm sure the demand will be high as hell for great community servers like we have on TF2

I'm also no steam no sale (with exception of Blizzard games). I use steam for the convenience. Having a different downloader for each software company is not convenient. Fortunately, EA doesn't have many games that interest me.

Its not a matter of price, or competition for me, I am naturally suspicously of DRM, and steam has worked hard to earn my trust and act in a way I respect. As a result its the only place I buy games, even if that occasionally means I pay over the retail price.

As frugal as I am I have to second that. I'll pay more for a game on steam just to avoid the hassles they take care of for me. DRM, installation, auto-updating, auto applying DLC content and clear and concise access to keys in the rare instance that a game doesn't let steam take care of them for me. All that's worth paying extra in my book.

If the downloader apps were capable of downloading the same games, I would agree. But Origin mostly has EA games and Steam is losing many of its EA games. And frankly, Origin is garbage, but I installed it anyway to get BF Bad Company 2 Vietnam, BF2, and BF2142 for $5 each.

If EA is taking its ball and going home that's one thing; offering exclusive minor titles is another. I'd consider it bad business to take away their bigger-named titles from Steam (or any other downloader) and keep them exclusive to their first party app. In which case they'd just be creating extra hassels for potential buyers. However, assuming BF3 is available on Steam, then this just makes the pot sweeter for people willing to download Origin, and apparently putting up with garbage. =o)

BF3 was touted as an Origin digital exclusive, though it might be available to services other than Steam. I don't think American McGee's Alice was released on Steam either (correct me if I'm wrong on that). They recently removed Crysis 1 and 2 from Steam too, but that might have been related to the DLC policy.

Seeing as we learned how terrible game companies are at Security this year. I am with the other people in the comments in not wanting to give any more information out to this industry, until they get their act together.

Maybe if EA releases some information regarding how they store our sensitive data, I'll revisit my opinion. But for now, you have to assume they are storing it in plain text or md5 without a salt.